William donkae



',Nrrnn STATES Artnr FLODGATE.

SPECIFICATION forming pari Of xttls Patent N0. 321,697, dated July '7, 1885.

Application filed July 31, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM DONNAN, of Burgettstown, in the county of Vashington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flood-Gates for Creeks; and Fdo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to floodgates employed in runs or creeks to separate elds, these gates extending across the creeks, and so doing away with the necessity of fencing on each side thereof, where the property on both sides is owned by the same person, thus enabling him to use the ground which was necessarily left outside the fence along the creek.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and durable Hood-gate, which can be constructed by unskilled persons.

It consists, essentially, in a log or beam extending from side to side of the creek, and having cross-planks at suitable intervals thereon, and a bearing between these cross-planks, and bars or blocks carrying wickets pivoted to said cross-planks and bearing, and having braces tting over one end and connected to rubber springs for holding the wickets in an upright position, the bars or blocks being thus firmly supported, and being turned in their bearings by any pressure on the wickets, so that in case of a flood in the creek any logs, drift, or like heavy substance coming in contact with the wickets will press them down, and as soon as the weight or pressure is removed from them the springs will draw them back to their upright position.

It also consists in certain improvements in the construction of the different parts of the loodgate, as hereinafter specifically set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improvement, I will describe the same, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which-u Figure 1 is a perspective View. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line x m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the bar or block, showing its pivotal bearings, and Fig. 4 is a view of the brace.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

rlhe log or beam a is sawed or trimmed to substantially rectangular shape in cross-see tion, and is mortised at intervals to receive the bearings b, which are fitted in mortises and secured therein by means of a spike or pin, b. The cross-planks c are then fastened by bolts or pins to the log c, midway between the bearings b. These planks c extend above y the log and in front of it, as at d, to formbearings for the pivoted bars or blocks e. The

log c is -secured or embedded across the run f or creek, along the bed thereof, in any suitable manner. rllhe blocks e are formed of wooden bars about four inches in diameter and of any desired length, and at one end a hole is bored to fit over the pivot-pin f, extending out from the plank c, this pin being generally driven through the plank, and forming the pivot for the roller on each side thereof. The pivotpin g is secured in the other end of the block e, and rests in the bearing b, being held therein by the cap b2. Two of these blocks are thus pivoted between each cross-plank, one end of each fitting over a pin, f, in the plank, and the pivot-pin g at the other end of the block resting in the bearing Z) between the planks. The blocks e carry any desired number of wickets h, and at the end next to the planks c is secured the iron brace 7c, the brace being of proper size to lit the blocktightly, and being driven firmly thereon, and thus strengthening the block at the point where it is most subject to strain. The brace 7c has the arms Z Z extending out therefrom, these arms being provided at the end with the hooks m m', and one arm, Z, extends out from the rear upper corner and the other arm, Z, from the forward lower corner ofthe block. On the cross-plank c above and back of the block is the pin or spike 19, and the rubber band r fits around the upper hook., m, and the pin p, the pressure or draft of the spring holding the wickets h of the block in an upright position; but when any pressure stronger than the spring comes against the wickets they are pressed down thereby, and as soon as this pressure is removed the spring-band r draws the wickets back to their normal upright position. To

increase the force to draw the block back to its proper position, the pin or spike p is driven into the cross-plank c in front of the block, and the rubber band o" passed over the hook m and this pin p', the two rubber bands acting together, and in case either breaks the other band having suiicient strength to retract the block when turned by pressure on the wickets. I have found that these rubber bands have advantages over the ordinary met-al spring, as they can be more easily secured in place, and,:though metal springs are liable to rust and lose their strength, I find that the rubber spring when covered by water remains unaffected for a long time.

Secured to the log or beam a above the block, and extending out against the wickets when in an upright position, are the shields s, these shields being formed of planks spiked or screwed to the log. lThese shields serve as stops to the blocks as the drawing pressure of the springs holds the wickets against them when in an upright position. They also serve to direct any drift, dirt, &c., carried down by the current over the opening or space between the blocks and the beam, and so prevent the clogging of the blocks by these substances. As the blocks and their bearings are supported and held in proper line by the beam, the Hood-gate is not liable to get out of order or be twisted out of true line by any floodeurrent passing over it, and though cheaply built is firm and substantial. In case of iioodwaters any heavy logs, drift, &c., carried down thereby will strike against the wickets and press them down, but as soon as they pass over the rubber spring or springs,through the brace k, draws:th em back to their normal upright position, so that they are not injured thereby.

The shields s' prevent the wickets from bcing pressed over in case any animal comes against the front thereof, and if it comes against the back thereof the spring-bands draw the wickets against it and cause them to strike it, and thus drive it off.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

l. In {lood-gates, the combination of the log or beam extending across the creek and earrying bearings band cross-planks c, the blocks or bars e, carrying wickets and mounted between said bearings and cross-planks, and rubber springs connected to hooks on the blocks and pins p on the cross-planks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In flood-gates, the combination of the block or bar c, carrying wickets 7L and pivoted in suitable bearings, the brace k,1itting thereon and having the arm Z and hook m, and the rubber springs yr, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In flood-gates, the combination of the log or beam a, blocks e, mounted in bearings supported by said log, and shields s, extending over said blocks, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said VILLIAM DONNAN, have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM DONNAN.

XVitnesses: J. l?. DONNAN, D. M. PRY. 

